Police make arrest in two Vernon break-ins

VERNON – Police have a man in custody believed to be responsible for at least two residential break-ins in Vernon.

James Macdonald, 37, is facing 15 charges including break and enter, theft of a vehicle, possession of break-in instruments, theft and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana.)

With help from the public, Vernon RCMP traced a number of crimes to Macdonald last week.

The investigation began after police received a report of a break-in around 2:50 a.m., Jan. 13 at a home in the 2500 block of Willow Park Road. According to Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy, a sleeping man was woken up by a commotion.

“He noticed the front door of the residence was open. A man was seen exiting the shop at rear of the house,” Noseworthy says.

When the resident confronted him, the suspect fled in a vehicle. Numerous items were stolen from the residence and a shed, including a mountain bike, a purse, and several electronics.

Later, at roughly 3:45 a.m., a townhouse was found to have been broken into in the 4900 block of 25 Avenue in Vernon. A purse, identification, and keys were taken.

“Several tips from the public, and investigation by Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP led to the arrest of a 37-year-old Okanagan man at approximately 5 a.m.,” Noseworthy says.

Macdonald was found in possession of many of the stolen items at the time of his arrest.

Further investigation linked him to a vehicle that was stolen from the Vernon area two days earlier. The vehicle was recovered by police, and items inside the car linked the man to a theft from vehicle which occurred overnight between Jan. 11 and Jan. 12. The vehicle had been parked in the 2200 block of 32 Street in Vernon. Numerous pieces of identification, a tire and various other items were stolen.

Macdonald was remanded in custody and will appear in Vernon Provincial Court on Jan. 16.

Police cannot currently tie him to any other break-ins, but are investigating his possible involvement in previous cases.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.